Larry Stanberry, a Western Carolina alumnus and
former Sylva businessman, has donated $300,000 to the Catamount
baseball program, WCU Director of Athletics Jeff Compher announced.
The gift is believed to be the second-largest, one-time gift
ever given to Catamount Athletics.
"When you feel good about people that helped you, you should
give back," Stanberry said. "I'll never forget what
the people at Western did for me. I have a special feeling for
WCU's baseball program and want to do all I can to help it to
be consistently competitive in the Southern Conference, advance
to the NCAA regionals every year and, someday soon, make the
trip to Omaha (for the College World Series)."
The gift will be designated for future facility improvements
and additions.
"Obviously we are very appreciative of what Larry and his
family have done and are doing for our baseball program,"
said WCU head baseball coach Todd Raleigh. "People may
not know how long he has been involved with Western Carolina
baseball, but he is one of our greatest supporters. With his
gift we will be able to sign kids that we could not have before.
We are already seeing an impact just telling recruits the things
we have planned for them. Both Larry and I have a common goal
and that is for Western Carolina to get to Omaha. We have gotten
a step closer with his gift."
Stanberry is a local product, graduating from Sylva High School
in 1957. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Stanberry began
his relationship with Western's baseball program in the mid-to-late
1960s when he served as the team's manager and right-hand man
for then coach Ron Blackburn. Upon his graduation from Western
in 1968, he entered the insurance business. Starting with Aetna
Insurance, then moving on to Hartford Insurance and Wachovia
Insurance, which became Alexander & Alexander. In 1980,
he and his wife Susan, who passed away this past spring, started
Stanberry Insurance Agency, which is now owned by his sons,
Kevin and Scott.
"Larry has been a faithful friend and supporter of our
baseball teams for many years," Compher said. "He
believes in Coach Raleigh and the leadership Todd is giving
our baseball program. Larry understands what it takes to win
and knows that this gift will give us an excellent chance to
remain atop of the SoCon and eventually take us to the College
World Series. We are so thankful for Larry and the very generous
investment he has made in Western Carolina University and our
baseball program."
Currently, Childress Field, the Catamounts' playing surface
at Hennon Stadium, is being completely renovated as part of
the multi-phase construction projects to WCU athletics. Approximately
108,000 square feet of grass and soil were removed with a new
sand-based soil being added along with new drainage and irrigation.
The field will have new bermuda grass, new infield dirt and
a crushed brick warning track. Also, there has been an upgrade
to the training facility with an additional hitting area, additional
storage space and a new practice infield. The outfield fence
will have a new look as well with a "purple monster"
being built in left field.
The Western Carolina baseball team is coming off an impressive
season in 2003. The Cats posted big wins over Clemson and Oklahoma
State, rising as high as 26th in the national polls. At season's
end, Western was 43-21 overall and 22-8 in the SoCon, winning
the SoCon regular season crown, the SoCon tournament title and
finishing runner up at the NCAA Wilson Regional.
